Ignite Power to hire locals if JVA pushes through – exec

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – MORE Power President Roel Castro said that they will not bring in employees from Iloilo but will hire locals if the proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) with Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) pushes through.

Castro issued this statement amid apprehensions that Ceneco employees will lose their jobs.

Castro was here recently for a briefing on the proposed JVA between Ignite Power and Ceneco.

Ignite Power and MORE Power are sister companies under the group of businessman Enrique Razon.

The briefing was held at Negros Residences in Bacolod City for Negros Occidental officials headed by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and vice governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Don Salvador Benedicto town Mayor Marxlen de la Cruz, and representatives of local chief executives in the cities of Silay, Talisay, and Bago, and the town of Murcia, and Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko and Andrew Montelibano.

As stipulated in the JVA proposal, Ceneco employees can opt to resign or retire and they will either get separation or retirement pays by Ceneco, in accordance with applicable laws and the Union’s CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement).

The funds will come from Ignite Power’s purchase of 70 percent of the distribution assets of CENECO.

Castro, however, said the CENECO employees can still apply with the new JVA company and must pass through the normal hiring process.

“They will be prioritized but they must apply and show their interest and willingness to adopt the culture of our kind of service,” Castro said.

Castro also reported that MORE Power in Iloilo City was able to bring down the systems loss from 30 percent to 6.5 percent in three years of operations, and invested more than P2 billion in the same period for the rehabilitation and improvement of services of the power distribution utility.

Castro said they need the support of Negros Occidental solons for the approval of its franchise by Congress if the proposed JVA gets the concurrence of Ceneco consumers through a referendum.

As to the application of the franchise, it will be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental for discussion and approval, Lacson said.

“The JVA should be given a chance,” the governor said.

If the JV company’s franchise is approved, Castro said they will invest an initial P1.5 billion in the franchise area starting Day 1 of operation.

In his briefing, Castro said that they will review the existing power contracts of Ceneco with power suppliers, to find ways and means on how to lower the generation charge.

“We will negotiate with them for the emergency contracts and get the lowest rate possible for the benefit of the consumers,” Castro stressed.